Tel Aviv / Doha, December 7, 2025: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he expects the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan to commence “very soon,” as regional efforts intensify to stabilise the conflict-stricken territory.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Netanyahu said, “We discussed how to bring an end to the Hamas rule in Gaza… We finished the first part… And then we very shortly expect to move into the second phase, which is more difficult.”
The Israeli leader also confirmed plans to meet US President Donald Trump “later this month” to discuss broader Middle East peace. Although no venue was specified, his office said the White House extended the invitation following a phone call between Netanyahu and Trump on Monday.
Earlier, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said negotiations over the US-backed truce have reached a “critical moment” as parties prepare to move into the next phase of the peace plan. Speaking at the Doha Forum, he described the current halt in fighting as a “pause,” not a definitive ceasefire.
Sheikh Mohammed outlined two conditions for a lasting ceasefire: the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the establishment of stability that allows unrestricted movement of people and goods.
Qatar, acting as a primary mediator, is working alongside other guarantors to implement the plan’s second phase. This stage includes deploying an international stabilisation force and forming an interim technocratic Palestinian government to maintain governance during the transition.
However, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that short-term measures would be insufficient without addressing the broader conflict. He insisted that lasting peace must secure Palestinian rights and the eventual creation of a sovereign state, including resolution of issues in the West Bank, as central to a comprehensive solution.
